The values of legacy and heritage stand tall at Oxford House. A family success story spanning four generations, the brand is today synonymous with world-leading brands and with delivering a superior experience to customers. Since the company’s earliest days, evolution and innovation have marked every step of the way, even as the brand grew from a Valletta haberdashery into the market leader it is today.

Now, Oxford House is set to embark on a new and exciting chapter with the announcement of a significantly expanded showroom and office space at their flagship headquarters in Mrieħel.

“This new expansion represents a step forward in Oxford House’s journey of growth and innovation. Our long-term vision is to create a space that not only enhances our ability to serve customers with exceptional products and experiences but also reflects our commitment to quality, comfort, and design,” Oxford House Managing Director Marco Galea starts off.

The new building stands as a testament to the hard work and the legacy the team behind Oxford House has built over the years, marking an important step in the brand’s evolution, while reinforcing management’s unwavering commitment towards placing customers at the heart of everything.

The new space will be dedicated to offering a much larger showcase of domestic appliances, allowing customers to explore a broader range of options. There will also feature a wider selection of kitchen models, giving customers even more choices to suit their unique tastes and needs.

In addition, the office solution displays will also be expanded, catering to both B2C and B2B customers, ensuring that businesses and individuals alike can find the perfect solutions for their workspaces. The expansion, Marco explains, is all about providing more variety and flexibility to meet the diverse needs of our customers and staff members.

A key priority that characterised this expansion was sustainability, which has been incorporated within the entire process of the building's construction.

“We have opted for bubble decking as a sustainable construction material, as well as Low-E-Glass for all apertures, thus reducing the amount of radiation that enters the building while enhancing its overall energy efficiency,” Marco states.

Moreover, the property will be equipped with photovoltaic panels, harnessing solar energy to power the building, further contributing to Oxford House’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

“These initiatives all align with our broader environmental goals, ensuring that our growth supports a more sustainable future,” he enthuses.

Of course, the expansion is expected to completely redefine the in-store experience for customers, with a number of innovations that places the customer journey a cut above the others. Marco firmly believes that, as a market leader, it’s crucial for Oxford House to provide customers with more options, a more dynamic shopping experience and enhanced accessibility.

“All these aspects set us apart from our competitors and provide unmatched value to our customers. The state-of-the-art showroom will create an immersive environment that reflects the cutting-edge nature of our products. We wanted to make the shopping experience even more convenient for our customers, so we will also provide ample parking facilities, ensuring they enjoy a seamless and stress-free time with us. We are constantly striving for excellence, and this new space allows us to showcase a broader range of products to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” he says.

New space also means increased inventory and more complex supply and demand processes. This is a challenge that Marco believes the whole team is fully prepared to meet, adapting their current processes to accommodate the new realities.

“We have a large warehouse that allows us to efficiently store and manage our products, ensuring that we can meet customer needs in a timely manner. Additionally, our strong business relationships with suppliers and partners enable us to maintain a smooth and flexible supply chain, allowing us to quickly respond to shifts in demand and ensure that stock levels are always aligned with customer expectations,” he explains.

The latest technologies will also play an important role in meeting these challenges, he adds, with Oxford House currently on the lookout for avant-garde software and systems to enhance both internal operations and the overall customer experience.

“The idea is to streamline our processes and improve our after-sales service responsiveness at every step.”

Of course, Oxford House is one of Malta’s most well-established household names. A family-owned business that’s now in its third-generation, heritage and legacy must undoubtedly be as strong a priority as innovation. How are these two, sometimes conflicting, values being balanced? For Marco they are actually two sides of the same coin.

“At Oxford House, our rich heritage is synonymous with quality and tradition, rooted in our origins as a trusted name for church and school chairs. Over the years, we have continuously evolved to meet the needs of our customers and stay ahead in a dynamic market. Today, we are proud to be the leading importers of renowned brands such as Bosch and Neff, while also representing esteemed brands like Steelcase for office furniture, Dorelan for beds and mattresses, Nobilia and Antares for kitchens. This evolution reflects our commitment to innovation and diversification, ensuring we honour our legacy while providing modern, high-quality solutions for our customers' homes and workplaces,” Marco reveals.

Part of this legacy, he adds, is also a commitment to employee well-being and productivity. What implications will the expansion carry for Oxford House’s workforce? The new premises, Marco tells me, are designed to comfortably accommodate the team while prioritising their well-being and productivity. New recreational spaces have been added, alongside a comfortable working environment, and beautiful outdoor areas where the staff can unwind during their break-time, reducing the need to commute or leave the building if they prefer not to.

“These enhancements not only create a positive work-life balance, but also promote a sense of community and collaboration. Additionally, this expansion opens up opportunities for further growth, enabling us to attract top talent, support innovation, and maintain the high standards of quality and service that define our brand. The expansion of our premises is not simply about taking a significant step in terms of customer experience. It is also set to help us navigate the ongoing challenge of finding and retaining a skilled workforce to sustain our growth, ensuring that we maintain the extra edge we currently enjoy even in terms of the excellence of our team,” Marco concludes.